Writing on the Plane

When we arrived in Seattle after a smooth 2 hour flight we found the weather threatening rain but the temperature was so pleasant! Warm in comparison to the places we’d been prior.

We called for a shuttle to the hotel. The Clarion was close to the hotel but with our train of luggage we did not want to walk it there.

We left our luggage at the hotel but quickly left to find lunch. We caught a shuttle from the hotel to a Jack in the Box about 15 minutes walk from the hotel. We enjoyed lunch there, realizing once again how pricey fast food can be if you are not careful. If you purchase the lowest priced items that your family enjoys and buy just enough to get you all through the meal…it isn’t too bad. We did not do that this time.

We walked back to the hotel after the meal. Tiberias is not use to walking near busy streets. Apparently he went off the sidewalk and was strolling in the gutter behind me on a busy street! Sterling freaked out and I think Ty learned his lesson. Ty cried the rest of the walk however.

At that time, as normal for me, when Tiberias cries over something like this I think to myself “I am so thankful! So thankful he is crying over this(in this case his dad yelling at him/being scared because he loves Ty so much and doesn’t want him to get hurt) instead of crying because someone has kidnapped him and Ty will never see his family again!

Once again we did not stay long at the hotel. Sterling and I decided we should all go downtown and see a little of Seattle on the single day we have the chance to do so. Ster and I had never been to Seattle.

We caught a train downtown. On the train Athena met an older dog who was so friendly and an owner who matched it. She enjoyed the ride because she was with the dog..

We walked from the train station down to the pier. We passed through the market and near the aquarium. There were plenty of amusing things to tempt us. However, Dad and Mom wanted to save money and not spend too much time downtown. So we enjoyed the views and the amazing pier.

We enjoyed seeing the ferris wheel though we did not pay the high price to ride it.

Athena kept asking for candy every time we passed a place that sold any. I had to repeatedly tell her we are not buying candy! Although, her sugar addiction didn’t have to wait too long.

 Space needle in the background:

Once back near the hotel we walked up the street the Denny’s for dinner where she had a sugary pancake breakfast followed by a milkshake!  We shared milkshakes as a family…split two shakes between us five and nobody was left wanting.

We walked in the sprinkling rain back to the hotel where our children would finally get to completely rest and watch tv in bed. They love that.

We got our kids to bed early in preparation for the early early rise we would make next.

We had two adjoining hotel rooms and left the midway door open. That was nice!

Ster and I woke up at 3:30am and got quickly ready. Woke the kids and got them ready. Then we went downstairs to find a group form to ride the shuttle to the airport.

At the airport we went to the USO. It was too early to check in for our flight however, the military requires us be hours early in case the flight times change.

At the USO we found a lot of fun. A dining area with a free food kitchen. Free frosted doughnuts! Bagels and muffins. Free drinks. Free hot dogs, sandwhiches and healthy foods too! Some people who might have flown into the airport might need dinner because of where they flew from. So, they had dinner and lunches ready.

They even had free boxes of Girl Scout cookies! We did not take advantage of that…after all the sugar and fat we are already putting into our bodies.

We walked passed the bunk room where people can sleep on cots. We walked passed the lounge room full of recliners, tvs and placed to use your computer. We went into the family room where we found toys, games, books, puzzles, blankets for napping and all the things babies need. We found a giant tv! With a kids channel, dvds to choose from and an X Box with a sensor so you can play fancy senor games (no remote controls).

When we first arrived the lights were out as parents were napping while their little ones played. But once those sleeping parents left the room we turned on the light and played the X Box with other children who arrived.

In the restroom I found a shower, towels, women’s bathroom needs, toothbrushes and baby diapers and items. All to take care of the military families. We could have stayed the night at the USO if we had wanted to save some money.

When we arrived at the airport we found that what we thought was going to be a three hour wait at the airport would be a six hour wait…our flight was delayed three hours!

SO we hung out at the USO and made the most of our time. Then we gave ourselves plenty of time to get through security and find our gate before the flight. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed another half hour. We were bored but we survived.

We boarded the plane quickly due to Athena putting our family in the category of having small children. Thanks little one. ;)

We stayed in the plane on the ground for a crazy long time. Even after we taxied around it was long time of moving but not getting close to flight. That was annoying. “Wait Roundys, then wait some more. Oh yeah, keep waiting. You’ll get to Japan eventually …in theory.”

I was happy to see that the plane was a fancy one with individual touch screens on the back of each seat. Giving each passenger the options of watching a movie/tv show, playing an electronic game or listening to music.  The downside to this system is that children can look over and see rated R movies playing on other people’s seats. But, my children are small enough and focused on what they are doing themselves. So, as long as they don’t get bored and start looking around too much they will be fine.

The airline staff served us dinner about an hour into our flight. That was fun and yummy. My kids are not falling asleep yet though. I sit here on the plane typing up our story and we are about 4 hours into the flight. That leaves about 6 hours left in the air. My children all doing electronic devices and snacking and I have no idea how they are going on so little sleep! Athena is watching Storks for the second time this flight. Lol. Little kids don’t mind watching the same movies or even scenes over and over again in one sitting. They love it! And Storks is a super cute movie!

I am eager and excited to be in Japan. I dream of my near future there! The wonderful spring weather…before the humid hot summer creeps upon us. Finding out if my hope for having a playground just outside my home will come true. Finding out if we’ll get a good place to live and a park the kids will love and be bored of after a week on base.

I look forward to my boys getting into the new school and making new friends. I pray Luke will meet someone this year that he connects with and will be good friends with.

I know I will have time and motivation to eat healthy and lose weight over the next few months! Between the Trim Healthy Mama diet and walking/biking around the military base. I really need it. I gained five lbs and a muffin top after two weeks outside of Rapid City. Vacation can do that to a woman!
And since then I have continued gaining fat. So, I look forward to calming my life back down into a healthy routine.